Administration of justice

PAKISTAN: The Frontier Corp brings a disappeared person in front of the media under fabricated circumstances after nine months

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a man who went missing nine months ago near Karachi has resurfaced this month in the custody of the Frontier Corp (FC). The man’s family were prevented from filing a report by police when he was abducted and so acted through the Balochistan High […]

SRI LANKA: Police strip and sexually torture man in custody to force confession

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the arrest and torture of a young man by police in Matara to force a confession of robbery. The victim was held illegally for over 48 hours and allegedly stripped, beaten repeatedly and sexually molested. No statement was taken and due process appears […]

UPDATE (Philippines): Four remaining falsely charged workers are released on bail

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that the four remaining workers being held on false charges for almost two years in Rizal have now been released on bail. They were among 20 who were arrested, falsely charged and detained for holding a strike and two of the detainees […]

BURMA: Another human rights lawyer’s licence unlawfully revoked

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned of another case of a human rights lawyer in Burma whose licence to practice was revoked after being released from prison. The lawyer, Ko Phoe Phyu, was freed after heavy pressure from the International Labour Organisation as he had been imprisoned for representing villagers in […]

NEPAL: Army claims that it killed two Dalit women and a child in self-defense in Bardyia National Park

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to share its concern regarding the killing of two women and a 12-year-old child by army personnel under unclear circumstances in Bardyia National Park in Nepal. Although the army claims that the victims were killed during an encounter, there is evidence to suggest otherwise, leading to […]

SRI LANKA: An inspector assaults a fisheries union leader

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a criminal investigator restrained and struck a fisheries union leader while he was detained at Negombo Police Station. Though police assault is classified as torture under Sri Lankan law it remains common and little addressed, and must be met with a criminal investigation. The […]

INDIA: Manipur police kill another in extra-judicial circumstances

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning the illegal arrest and alleged murder of another person by state police. It is widely suspected that his killing was part of a combined operation between the Manipur State Police Commando Unit and officers of the 21 Assam Rifles (AR).  CASE DETAILS:  On […]

PAKISTAN: A Hindu teenager is told to marry her alleged rapist by jirga members; police and courts fail to act

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that four men who allegedly assisted in the rape of a young Hindu girl have been granted pre-arrest bail by a session court. Rape is a non-bailable offense in Pakistan and this is against criminal procedure and the law. Attempts by the family to file […]

PAKISTAN: Urgent protection needed for the suvivors of love marriage-related murders; police refuse to investigate

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned that authorities in North West Frontier province have taken no action to arrange urgently-needed protection for a man, his sister-in-law and her young son; all are in immediate danger of being murdered as a response to a love marriage, and three murders have already taken place. […]

BURMA: Citizen-journalist sentenced to 13 years for non-existent illegal video footage

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained the details of the case against a journalist who has been imprisoned in Burma for sending video footage abroad. Ngwe Soe Linn was sentenced to 13 years in jail for supposedly sending illegal clips and going illegally into Thailand, even though there was no evidence […]

SRI LANKA: Police assault a three wheeler driver and force him to carry them for free

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that police in Chilaw illegally arrested, tortured and falsely accused a three-wheeler driver of carrying drugs. After ejecting the passengers, beating the driver and searching the vehicle the officers then forced him to give them a free ride. The man was later hospitalised. After a […]

SRI LANKA: Two men are abused by police for carrying opposition posters during the presidential election; one is arbitrarily arrested

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to report a case of police brutality against members of the United National Party who were in possession of lawful posters for a rally supporting the presidential opposition candidate in December. One man from the party has been arrested and charged with carrying illegal political posters.  […]

UPDATE (Indonesia): The prosecution of police for violence appears to be delayed

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that the prosecution of the four policemen who arbitrarily arrested and tortured a man on December 2009 will not be carried out in a fair and legitimate manner. The AHRC reported on this case previously, during which it wrote to the UN Rapporteur on […]

UPDATE (Burma): New fraudulent criminal case lodged against released human rights defender

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received news that a human rights defender who was released from jail in September is facing a new criminal trial under the same charges. She served more than a year in jail because of complaints she made against local officials, but is facing another trial along […]

SRI LANKA: Panwila police neglect a young man’s case of assault

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that police in Kandy have failed to adequately investigate an unprovoked attack on a young man in Madalkelle.  CASE DETAILS:  According to information we have received, on 2 October 2009 at 7pm Christopher David was walking home from his job at the youth movement, ‘Prajashakthi’ […]

UPDATE (Nepal): International campaign demanding prosecution of Maina Sunuwar’s murderers

Dear friends,  Amnesty International, supported by other civil society organisations such as the Advocacy Forum Nepal, is beginning an international campaign today to call for justice in the infamous case of murdered 15-year-old Maina Sunuwar. Four military officers are accused of having illegally arrested, raped and tortured Maina to death on 17 February 2004. Despite the […]

BURMA: Nine people imprisoned on confessions obtained from torture

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has already issued an open letter on the case of Dr. Wint Thu and eight other people who in December 2009 were given long jail terms for alleged offences against the state in Burma after they were tortured into giving confessions that the police used in court. […]

UPDATE (Nepal): Maina Sunuwar’s murderers have still not been prosecuted, six years on

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned about the impunity of those involved in the murder of Maina Sunuwar. Four military officers are accused of having illegally arrested, raped and tortured this 15-year-old girl to death on 17 February 2004. Despite the enormous national and international attention this case has received […]

SRI LANKA: Balagolla police mislead a magistrate and prepare charges against the wrong person

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that police in Balagolla have deprived a woman of her right to redress and grossly misled a magistrate by presenting the wrong person in court. The woman was run over and severely, permanently injured by a negligent motorcyclist, but because she refused to settle or […]

INDONESIA: No prosecution 21 years after Talangsari incident

The Attorney General ignores the recommendation of the National Commission for Human Rights while victims commemorate the 21st anniversary of the atrocities. (photo: survivors of the Talangsari massacre calling for justice, source: KontraS) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (KontraS) are disappointed about the continuing delays […]